West End Theatre Comes Together For Christmas Carol Singing To Support ITV's Text Santa Charity Appeal

Stars of the London stage will come together on Friday 21 December, 4-5pm for carol singing and festive merry-making in support of ITV's Text Santa appeal to raise money on behalf of charities offering life-changing services to vulnerable people throughout the UK.

The public is invited to join in the fun and sing along with famous faces from top West End shows at this unique event, organised by the Society of London theatre, which will take place outside the Leicester Square TKTS booth in the heart of London's theatreland. There will be live musical accompaniment playing a host of traditional carols, and mince pies and mulled wine will be on offer to ward off the winter chill.

As well as collection buckets circulating on the day, £1 from every discounted ticket sold over the weekend at TKTS will go to this year's six chosen charities Age UK, Anthony Nolan, Carers UK, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Together for Short Lives and Whizz-Kidz. There is also a Just Giving page for the event at www.justgiving.com/OLT.

The carol singing will be followed by an evening of special entertainment programming across ITV1, combining exciting live studio entertainment and star guests alongside mini-episodes of some of ITV's leading shows such as Coronation Street. The show will bring to life the six charities and viewers will be encouraged to donate throughout the night as part of the Text Santa appeal. People can also get involved in fundraising beforehand in the run up to the show, with adults and kids fundraising packs available for download now from www.itv.com/textsanta.

Mark Rubinstein, President of the Society of the London Theatre, said:  "We are delighted that the West End has agreed to come together in this show of festive charitableness to help raise money for this year's ITV Text Santa appeal. We have we a host of first-class shows running over the Christmas period so I'm sure there will be some great voices in the choir."